Wieting Phase II rises to new heights

Renovations to enhance the century-old opera house taking shape

June 13, 2018

If you were near downtown Toledo last week you couldn't miss the crane towering over the Wieting Theatre Opera House which is one of only a handful of structures standing at its height in the area.

A crew working with general contractor Henning-Pairc, of Johnston, Iowa, chiseled spaces in the brick near the top to allow for the installation of new steel beams.

The beams will anchor the new stage lighting and sound equipment which is being installed as part of the improvements to the building.

Article Photos

RIGHT- Workers from Steel Erectors of Iowa atop the Wieting Theatre in Toledo last week had the assistance of a crane which towered over the project along East High Street. Chronicle photos/John Speer

ABOVE- Holes are chiseled in the brick high atop the stage area of the Wieting Theatre to allow for installation of new beams to support stage equipment.

The $1.3 million Phase II? also includes backstage curtains and rigging along with basement waterproofing and roof work.

Jim Roan, project manager, was scheduled to give an update on the work to the Toledo City?Council on?Monday night, June 11. Watch for this report in The Chronicle.

It is planned to have the theatre work coumpleted and to be reopened near the end of July.

Attention will then turn ot demolition of the Toledo Community?Building next door and construction of the Wieting Event Center on the site.

The new building is planned to include event space, kitchen dressing and green room spaces, set construction area, restrooms and storage with the entire project to be completed by June, 2019.

Phase I of the historic theatre restoration was completed in 2012. That project also cost $1.3 million with comfortable new seating and new projection, sound and screen equipment added. Modern restrooms have been added along with a completely refurbished interior.

New heating equipment was installed and, for the first time, the theatre was air-conditioned.